with what meds, you flush IV

U.S.A. California

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I am not able to understand why nurses flush IV'S before meds. I know these are for dissolving any clots but what meds usually need these flushes ? Heparin ................:eek:

We normally flush with saline to make sure the port is patent.

Specializes in Med Surg, Telemetry, Long Term Care.

i flush heplock with ns before and after i give prn meds such as morphine,dilaudid,zofran,etc.hehe!!!

you flush your medlocks with NS for patency(Q6 and PRN) according to your hospitals policy). Depending on the meds COMPATIBILITY you may have to mix w/sterile water or LR or whatever is compatible to the med. Do not asume all meds are compatible with Normal Saline

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I work with Pitocin. I pause my pump and flush before and after giving any med to prevent any drug-drug interactions. Flushing does not just have to do with avoiding your I.V. from clotting off.

Specializes in ED.
I work with Pitocin. I pause my pump and flush before and after giving any med to prevent any drug-drug interactions. Flushing does not just have to do with avoiding your I.V. from clotting off.

Ditto! I flush before to check patency (if I didn't start the IV or its been a while since anything was given) and inbetween each med, and after all meds to ensure no meds are left in the tubing.

Specializes in Tele Step Down, Oncology, ICU, Med/Surg.

SASH was what I learned--Saline to flush and establish IV patency, Administer medication, Saline to flush thru medication, and where indicated (as it ports) finish off with Hep. Or in most cases: SAS Saline, Administer med, Saline.

I always flush an IV line before I reattach it to the pump. I've noticed when this is not done the pump is more likely to start beeping with an occlusion.

thanks !

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